Bandits on Thursday, September 12, killed at least eight security personnel near Tazame village in the Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
A local resident reported that a security detail, including five police officers and three soldiers, was deployed to safeguard a road construction project.
The officers were stationed along the Gusau-Tsafe-Zaria Road to protect workers involved in the repairs. According to the resident, the security personnel were on duty when bandits unexpectedly attacked, opening fire and killing them immediately.
“The bandits laid in wait on a nearby farm close to the main road, and as soon as the police and military personnel arrived, they opened fire instantly, killing some of them,” he said.
“There was a heavy fight between the bandits and the security personnel, which led to the deaths of more security personnel.
“Some of the bandits were also killed during the encounter,” he added.
According to the local resident, chaos erupted on the road as drivers abandoned their vehicles and sought refuge in the surrounding bush to escape the danger. He noted that the road construction, which began in 2023, has progressed slowly, with only a few kilometers finished, largely due to repeated bandit attacks.
“This project has been ongoing for several months, but only a few kilometers have been covered because the bandits are always here, either attacking the construction workers or travelers on the road,” he explained.
